Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
26:41
Perspectives on Neuroscience
Published on: July 31, 2007
Reflections on the disciplinary gulf between the natural and social sciences
1Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1290, USA. spwright@umich.edu
Community Genetics
|June 3, 2006
Summary
This essay explores the disciplinary divide between natural and social sciences, highlighting how assumptions about knowledge, expertise, and responsibility create a hierarchy, marginalizing social and ethical considerations in scientific claims.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Science
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
Background:
- Disciplinary gulf exists between natural and social sciences.
- Differences in fundamental assumptions regarding the nature and purpose of knowledge.
- Natural sciences claim objectivity and universality; social sciences emphasize historical and cultural contingency of knowledge.
Purpose of the Study:
- Explore key features of the disciplinary gulf between natural and social sciences.
- Contrast assumptions about knowledge, objectivity, and contingency.
- Examine how 'expertise' and 'responsibility' maintain this gulf.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of scientific disciplines.
- Examination of core assumptions in knowledge production.
- Analysis of keyword usage ('expertise,' 'responsibility') and their impact.
Main Results:
- The concepts of 'expertise' and 'responsibility' reinforce assumptions of neutrality and technicality in scientific knowledge.
- These concepts marginalize social and ethical dimensions of knowledge.
- A politically influential hierarchy of knowledge claims is created, favoring natural sciences.
Conclusions:
- The disciplinary gulf is maintained by specific conceptual frameworks and keyword usage.
- Social and ethical dimensions are marginalized, impacting the perceived value of different knowledge claims.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for a more integrated and equitable scientific landscape.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Scientific Nature of Social Psychology
Social psychology is a scientific discipline dedicated to understanding how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. Unlike common sense, which relies on anecdotal experiences and intuition, social psychology employs systematic research and empirical methods to ensure objectivity and reliability. This distinction is fundamental in distinguishing scientifically supported findings from mere speculation.Four fundamental scientific values guide a structured approach to research in...
02:30Naturalistic Observations
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
01:26Structuralism
Structuralism, an early psychological theory developed by Wilhelm Wundt and his student Edward Bradford Titchener, sought to dissect the human mind into its most fundamental components. Wundt's groundbreaking work in his laboratory set the stage for Titchener to define structuralism's goal as cataloging the "atoms" of the mind—sensations, images, and feelings—akin to how chemists identify elements of matter.
Titchener's approach to structuralism was unique. He employed introspection, a method...
Titchener's approach to structuralism was unique. He employed introspection, a method...
01:23Cognition and Behavior
Social psychology examines the complex interplay between individual mental processes and social interactions. Historically, the field was divided into two domains: social behavior and social cognition. Researchers focusing on social behavior analyzed actions within social contexts, such as conformity, aggression, or cooperation. Meanwhile, social cognition researchers investigated how people perceive, interpret, and mentally represent their social environments. However, modern perspectives no...
02:40The Scientific Method
Research is what makes the difference between facts and opinions. Facts are observable realities, and opinions are personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate. In the scientific community, facts can be established only using evidence collected through empirical research.